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Music Stand

Seems same as the standard music stand you see everywhere in schools and band practise.  I bought a couple of this type many years ago for  £18 each, at wholesale price, so these are a bit of a bargain.  I’ve ordered these before and they look and seem functional and do the job a lot better than those old wire frame stands.  I don't recommend the traditional folding stands anymore - these are much more stable and easy to use.  Only get one of those folding stands if you need to take it traveling and you know there's no stand at the venue.

£12

Capo

Makes playing in any key a doddle on acoustic or electric. Only fits guitar with steel strings, but there is another version available for classical/flamenco, nylon strung guitars – let me know which you want if getting this from me.  If you get one of these and learn 3 or 4 chords, then you can play thousands of songs in any key.  Even Eric Clapton uses a capo when he needs to play with open strings.

4.50

Strings

These are the string I now use and recommend.  I usually buy these in packs of three to cut costs and then split the pack.  If you need the fancy box let me know and I’ll order or keep one aside for you, but it will cost £1 extra for the cardboard. (!?)  Acoustic strings from the same company are about £5 a set.

£4 a set

Acoustic Practice Guitar Kit

I seem to have found a winner here with the first two sold with two days of them arriving.  Built in China these are great value for a first practise guitar or a party/beach knockabout instrument.  These are a nice size too – full length scale but more the size of an electric than a full size jumbo – fine for 9 years old to 90.  And a soft cover heavy duty nylon case.  I don't get the cheap nylon cases as they just don't last more than a term.

37

Harley Benton Electric Guitar Kit

I have a couple of students already using one of these and they’re great guitars to start on, and come with the nylon case, the amp, cables, and a strap.  Being a Euro-Zone product the amplifier will need to be re-plugged - which if you wish I would do before delivery if you are a student.  Combine this with the RP50 below and a student will have everything they need for years of study before taking to the stage with an amp upgrade.  The amp or RP 50 can also be used as a headphone amp – so no disturbing anyone else.

These feel lighter and smaller than the Telecaster and my youngest student playing one of these is 9.

65

Digitech RP50

I sold 7 of these last year at Christmas and they’re all still fine.  Run off 6 AA batteries in this version and these last about 15-20 hours.  Can be used as a headphone amp on its own – and it’s in stereo!  30 x drum tracks as well and a built in tuner.  Don’t forget to get another guitar cable as this unit normally goes in between the guitar and the amp.

36

Picks

The ones I use from Germany at a great price.  Come as Medium or Thin.  Use thin ones if you’re in the first year of learning and Medium if your heavy handed.

22p each

Roland Micro-cube

I bought one of these over two years ago and it’s run faultlessly every day for many hours since.  Can be run from the mains (you’ll need a plug adaptor as this one is Euro zone compliant) but I use mine all the time from 6 AA batteries that last about 15-20 hours.  (The Halfords and Tesco batteries work fine)  This has Chorus, Flanger, Phaser and Tremolo effects and a second function for either Digital Delay or Reverb.  It is THE practice amp and can be used as an effects pedal as well, or a headphone amplifier.  You can also run a line in from your walkman or MP3 player.  I have never seen these discounted much in price, so this might be something you would like to buy locally, especially as the plug on this import will need changing before you can use it on the mains supply.

There's also a 30 watt and 60 watt version of this (without the battery power option) if you want to get load enough for gigs.

69

Cassette Multi-Track Recorder.

This TASCOM has been around for years and is getting cheaper as the newer digital recorders take over.  So it’s a good time to get into cheap multi-track recording on cassette.  Simpler to use it’s a non-computer option that enables you to record many tracks that build up to sound like a whole band load of mates playing together.

84

Headphones

There’s quite a few inexpensive headphones around now that are made in China.  I have a couple of these and they are fine, comfortable and look OK.  I’m sure they aren’t as strong as 'professional' ones – but they are 1/10 the price!

13 each

Mic. Stand

You see these everywhere in schools and clubs.  It’s the standard mic. stand built to a budget price.  The next quality level up (professional) is about £30 for pretty much the same but very rugged.

Most bands use these and find them OK – at this price, if they break they’re just replaced rather than repaired.

The boom makes it very easy to position the mic..

16

Harley Benton Telecaster

One of my students already has one and is giving it a bit of stick and it’s holding up well.  An even better recommendation is that I have been using one as a student guitar that gets used every day for hours and it's still working fine.  Perfect as a first guitar with no tuning problems you get with the tremolo such as those on the Stratocasters.  This design is over 50 years old now and still a favourite with all genres from U2, Quo and through to Country stars as well.

57

Microphone, clip and cable.

I already have a couple of these I use to record at home.  Weighs about a 1/5 of the real SM58 that it copies as it has a plastic case, but at this price its use it and be careful.  As the real one would cost £80+ it’s a bargain.  Comes with a mic. stand clip and cable.

11 each

Music Stand Light

These are the ones I use, although I paid £25 for mine in the UK.  German Made as far as I can see and take 25 watt picture light bulbs.  (Although I have run 40 watt cooker bulbs in mine).  These need the plug changing as they arrive with a Euro type shaver plug – but I’ll do that for you before I deliver.

16.50 each

Guitar Cables

The cables you start with are usually not very good, but inexpensive.  Rather than buy cheap cables (that always seem to fail at the worst of times) buy them like these, with Neutric jacks and quality cable.  These are 3 metres long and just about right for most playing situations.  These are like the ones I use every day.

10 each

Guitar and Bass Tuners

These work very well and I’ve sold a few of these this year already (including my son – well he earns more than me!).  Simple to use and accurate as you can get at this price.  You are unlikely to need something better than this at any time in your guitar playing career. 

13 each

Metronome

A metronome is a critical practise tool.  This one is inexpensive and comes from a quality brand, Korg.  Easy to use and covers everything you’re likely to need.  If you don’t use one of these you’ll need a drum track like the ones in the RP50 effects pedal to keep you in time. (The drum tracks are more fun, but not as accurate for measuring progress.)

15.50 each

Guitar Wall Hanger

I have 8 of these in this brand in my studio.  No problems – but you must screw them deeply into the wall or into a timber upright behind the plasterboard if you have timber framed rooms.  Much better than hooks – and yes I’ve seen a couple this year that fell from the wall using other brands of wall hanger.

5.50 each

These are the ones I’ve used for some time and they work fine.  At £6 they’re a bit of a bargain, but of course made in China they ought to be this cheap.  It’s just difficult to find them this cheap locally.  Two types – one for electrics and one for acoustics with the thicker body.  Just tell me which one you need.  I’ve seen two guitars this year that slid along the wall where they were propped up; the headstocks broke off completely.  Players need stands rather than luck.

6 each

Guitar Books, Music and Methods

There are so many of these, but they are great Christmas presents.  Let me know what you want and I’ll order it from the cheapest place I can find and charge you £1 for the effort.  If your child is a student with me, I’ll do a bit of detective work and work out what they want and what they could play at their grade.  The ‘play-along’ books are great for practice and you’ll get quite a lot of material for about £10 to £15

£6 – 20 each